#CQWW DX SSB 2025 review

Contest: CQWW DX SSB 2025

Category: SO AB LP

TRX: IC-7300 100W

Antennas: 4 el 10m LFA, Inv-V 2x22m, 3-band Halo.
 

Well, I'm still recovering of this weekend. The CQWW contest was a blast. I could not be on the radio the whole weekend due to other obligations. But still I managed to make 900 QSOs in total. I stopped early Sunday evening because I was very tired, otherwise I could certainly make 1K QSOs. However, what is the benefit of an extra few QSOs against some rest before the new work week?

This was also the first time I used my contestcall PA6G. I really liked it. No mix up with EA4BAS anymore, the short callsign is easy to call after every exchange. When calling S&P I noticed that calling Papa Alfa Six Germany instead of Golf in the end helps a lot. In short: it was a very good choice to have a contestcall, it has a lot of benefits. I still have to get used to it in CW though.

Propagation was very good this weekend. On 10m I managed a few small pile-ups with Japan in the morning and USA/Canada in the afternoon, rate about 80 QS/hr. On 80m I was spotted several times, rate was about 120 Qs/hr. I think that is not bad for a modest station with only 100W. As a matter of fact, I think if I would be able to be on for the whole weekend I could get a score like a high powered station. It is all a matter of get the right (free) spot on the band to run and get spotted by others. You need to a little bit lucky as well, but it is also operating practice. Some think it is just a matter of being the strongest but I disagree. You can't beat propagation, even not with large antennas and a lot of power. Although a good station helps of course.

Still can't find a reasonable mapper. This map is made with Global Overlay Mapping by EI8IC. I wanted to make a map at the worldradioleague site I previously noted but it seems those 900 QSOs are just too much and the map is not showing. But below are at least some statistics from that site.

I really miss the adventureradio site for this. It was a really good site but the creator had to stop because of map issues. The site is still online but is not loading the map. 

Anyway, I had great fun. I didn't do as well as last year due to other obligations. But there will always be a next one. It was a nice experience to work with my new contestcall for the first time. I'm certainly very happy with it. Till next year. 73 and good DX.